Book Launch: The Only Flag Worth Flying

The launch of The Only Flag Worth Flying: Direct Action and the Enforcement of International Marine Conservation Law (Routledge, 2026) will feature a discussion between author Sarah Levy, DPhil Candidate at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford, and Captain Paul Watson (joining remotely via Zoom), founder of Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and contributor of the book's foreword.

Coinciding with World Oceans Week and the recent entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, the conversation will explore some of the most urgent questions facing international environmental law today: Can the oceans truly be protected without meaningful enforcement? What happens when states fail to act? And what role, if any, should non-state actors play in defending the global commons?

Drawing on legal analysis, political theory, and decades of marine conservation campaigns, The Only Flag Worth Flying examines the contested role of direct action in protecting ocean ecosystems and enforcing international law beyond the nation-state.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and drinks reception. We hope to see you there! 🌊